By Kanae Haneishi and Matsumoto Tsuyoshi
(June 16, 2021)
Game-Based Approaches (GBA) including Teaching Games for Understanding (Bunker, & Thorpe, 1982;1986), Tactical Games Model (Mitchell, Oslin, & Griffin, 2021), and Game Sense (Light, 2006) have become increasingly popular in coaching (as well as in physical education) around the world. GBA is a player-centered approach that focuses on teaching skills in game-like situations rather than using isolated drills. Players also learn tactics and game strategies in various modified games. In a GBA approach, coaches ask deliberate questions between sessions/during games (after freeze playing) so they can enhance player’s thinking ability and creativity. Thus, GBA helps the player develop skills and make critical decisions in-game situations.
GBA has been mainly implemented in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) programs in Japan while many sport coaches in Japan, particularly at grassroots and youth levels, rarely know about the GBA concept and continue coaching in a conventional approach, in the same manner they were coached as athletes. In Japan, many youth (K-12 and beyond) spend a significant amount of time playing sport outside of the school curriculum such as extracurricular activities (Bukatsudo). For example, according to Nippon Junior High School Physical Culture Association, there are 2.2 million students participating in the Bukatsudo sports, which is approximately 64 percent of all junior high students in Japan (NJPA, 2014). Most coaches are volunteered teachers without Physical Education and/or Coaching backgrounds. In fact, 80% of coaches have no physical education background nor coaching experiences (JSA, 2014). It is important to introduce to those coaches a variety of pedagogical approaches that are effective and inclusive (Teraoka, & Matsumoto, 2016). Therefore, “GBA Japan Project” was recently established with the General Incorporated Association Coach Trust (Representative Director: Tsuyoshi Matsumoto) and Dr. Kanae Haneishi from the Coach Development Team at Sport Coach America to promote inclusive GBA, foster sport participation, and improve the overall quality of life for diverse people in Japan. General Incorporated Association Coach Trust is a Japanese association that focuses on contributing “to the realization of a richer life through business related to sports, culture, and education.”
The GBA Japan Project targets all people from grassroots to a competitive level, including parents who teach their kids how to play games in the backyard, local adults who coach kids’ weekend pick-up sports, coaches of extracurricular activity youth programs, club sport coaches, and elite sport coaches. Further, the project also promotes Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through GBA, including senior citizens, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.
Various strategies and approaches are organized in the project in order to educate people about GBA philosophically and theoretically, as well as to provide practical knowledge and tools for people to easily implement GBA. The project consists of blog writing, presentations, article and book publications, workshops, and practical sessions (see the overall project map below). Survey and data are also collected throughout the project to allow timely feedback from participants and share ongoing progress with the GBA community.
The GBA Japan Project wishes to contribute to the Japanese coaching world with an inclusive and innovative coaching approach. It is not only designed to improve overall game performance (i.e., skills and tactics) but also emphasizes inclusiveness in sport. Through the GBA lens, coaches can view coaching in a more holistic way for ALL people. To follow this GBA Japan project, follow the short weekly blog on the Facebook page.
References
Bunker, D. & Thorpe, R. (1982). A model for the teaching of games in secondary schools. Bulletin of Physical Education, 18, 5-8.
Bunker, D., & Thorpe, R. (1986). Is there a need to reflect on our games teaching? Rethinking Games Teaching. (pp. 25-34). Loughborough: University of Technology.
Bunker, D., & Thorpe, R. (1986). Issues that arise when teaching for understanding. (pp 57-60). Loughborough: University of Technology.
Teraoka, E. & Matsumoto, T. (2016). Current Status of Coaching in Club Activities at Japanese Junior High Schools. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 14, 1-10.
Japan Sports Association. (2014). Gakkou undou bukatsudou shidousha no jittai ni kansuru chousa houkokusho [Actual conditions survey of teachers in school sports club activities]. (in Japanese), Retrieved from
Light, R. (2006). Game Sense: Innovation or just good coaching? Journal of Physical Education New Zealand. 39 (1), 8–19.
Mitchell, S., Oslin, J. & Griffin, L. (2021). Teaching sport concepts and skills: A tactical games approach (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
